Tool and knife sharpener devices



April 30, 1957 E. DE J. soLAR cANAs 2,790,282

x TOOL AND KNIFE S'RPEER DEVICES Filed Feb. 25, 1956 United States Patent O TOOL AND KNIFE SHARPENER DEVICES Eduardo de J. Solar Caas, Mexico City, Mexico Application February 23, 1956, Serial No. 567,407

3 Claims. (Cl. 51-241) This invention refers to an automatic Sharpener device, consisting of a cone or other element of any abrasive material, attached to a shaft capable of being operated at high, rotatory speed, by the electrical motor of a household apparatus of the type known as mixers or liquetiers, when such a shaft is direct-connected or coupled with the drive shaft of such an apparatus.

The object of the invention is to facilitate the sharpening of knives and other cutting tools by providing a simple, practical and economic device adapted to be operated by and for taking advantage of the high speed of which the motor of the mixers or liqueers is cap-able.

Another object of the invention is to provide in the Sharpener device mentioned, guide mediums to present the blade of the knife or other cutting tool in the proper angular position when contacting the abrasive element.

The characteristics of this Sharpener device, are set forth in the following description and are shown in the drawings attached to same, as -an illustration of two of the preferred modifications whereby this invention may be executed. In the drawing the same numeral references serve to show the same parts as appear in the two gures, which represent the following:

Fig. l is a conventional section view of a Sharpener device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a conventional view partially in section, of another modification of this invention, in which there is shown the conversion of a vertical drive to horizontal rotation.

Referring now to the drawing, specifically to Figs. l

and 2, one modification of the present invention com-V prises a vertically disposed shaft 1 journaled in a discoidal body or support 2, preferably of a heavy metal; an interchangeable coupling 3 which is attached to the lower end of the shaft 1, and a conical or discoidal abrasive or sharpening element 4 of abrasive or polishing material which is attached to the upper end of the shaft 1. The upper part of the body 2 is recessed by a diametrical channel 9 within which the sharpening element 4 is disposed. The channel 9 has inclined sidewalls substantially parallel with the inclination of the periphery of the sharpening element 4 and are adapted to support or guide a blade with its edge in sharpening engagement with the element 4. On its underside, the body 2 is preferably provided with rubber or like feet 10.

In case that a horizontal drive is desired, a bevel pinion 5 is provided at the upper end of the vertical shaft 1', as shown in Fia. 3, connecting with another bevel pinion 6 which is attached to one end of a horizontal shaft 7, at the other end of which is attached the conical or discoidal sharpening element 4 of abrasive or polishing material.

In this modification of the invention, a discoidal body 8 l 2,790,282 Patented Apr. 30, 1957 is provided with a vertical guide channel, slot or notch 9' to horizontally accommodate the sharpening element 4 of abrasive or polishing material 4.

Functioning of the Sharpener device Once the container has been removed from the mixer or liquefer, the Sharpener device is placed on top of the base of the mixer or' liqueer, in such a way that the coupling 3 of the Sharpener is connected with the upper end of the drive shaft ofthe mixer or liqueer, so that when the motor of the latter is operated, the rotary movement of the shaft of said mixer or liquetier is transmitted to the shaft 1l of the Sharpener, and also to the sharpeningV element of abrasive or polishing material. The weight of the body 2 and the frictional engagement of the feet 10 on the base of the mixer or liqueer resist rotation of the body so that only the sharpening element 4 is rotated by the drive from the mixer or the like. Then it is sufficient to place the knife or other similar tool in one of the guide channels provided in the discoidal body for engagement with the abrasive element 4, rotating at a high speed, to sharpen the edge of the knife or other tool.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as a novelty, is:

l`. A rotary sharpening attachment for mixers or the like, comprising a heavy discoidal body having a vertical axis and substantially horizontal top and bottom surfaces, drive means in said body including a vertical shaft journaled axially of said body and a coupling on the lower end of said shaft externally of said bottom surface, said coupling making driving connection with a drive element by axial slidable engagement, frictional supporting means on the bottom surface of said body for resting on the base of a mixer with said coupling engaged with the drive shaft of the mixer, the weight of said body and frictional engagement of said supporting means precluding rotation of said body when said drive means is driven through said coupling by the mixer drive shaft, a channel in said body opening through the top and side walls thereof, and a rotary sharpening element disposed wholly within said channel and mounted on said drive means to be driven thereby, whereby said attachment may be operatively positioned merely by resting it on a mixer base with said coupling slidably engaged with the mixer drive shaft and a knife blade or the like may be inserted within said channel and guided by the walls thereof into sharpening engagement with said sharpening element.

2. A rotary sharpening attachment for mixers or the like, comprising a heavy solid discoidal body having a vertical axial bore and substantially horizontal top and bottom surfaces, a vertical shaft journaled in said bore, a coupling on the lower end of said shaft externally of said bottom surface, said coupling making driving connection with a drive element by axial slidable engagement, frictional supporting means on the bottom surface of said body for resting on the base of a mixer with said coupling engaged with the drive shaft of the mixer, the weight of said body and frictional engagement of said supporting means precluding rotation of said body when said drive means is driven through said coupling by the mixer drive shaft, a channel diametrically in said body opening through the top and side walls thereof, and a rotary sharpening element disposed wholly within said channel and mounted on the upper end of said drive shaft to be driven thereby, said sharpening element having a conical periphery and the side walls of said channel being inclined and substantially parallel with the inclination of the periphery 3 Y of said sharpening element, whereby said attachment may be operatively positioned merely by resting it on a mixer base with said coupling slidably engaged with the mixer drive shaft and a knife blade or the like may be inserted within said channel and guided by the walls thereof into sharpening engagement lwith said sharpening element.

3. A rotary sharpening attachment for mixers or the like, comprising a heavy solid discoidal body havin-g a vertical axis and substantially horizontal top and bottom surfaces, drive means in said body including a vertical shaft journaled axially of said body, a horizontal shaft geared at one end to the upper end of said vertical shaft and a coupling on the lower end of said vertical shaft externally of said bottom surfaces, said coupling making driving connection Awith a drive element by axial slidable engagement, frictionalsupporting means on the bottom surface of said body for resting on the base of a mixer with said coupling engaged with the drive sha-ft of the mixer, the weight of said body and frictional engagement of said supporting means precluding rotation of said body when said drive means is driven through said coupling through the top and side walls thereof, and a rotary sharpening element disposed wholly within said channel and mounted on said horizontal shaft to be driven thereby, whereby said attachment may be operatively positioned merely by resting it on a mixer base with said coupling slidably engaged with the mixer drive shaft and a knife blade or the like may be inserted within said channel and guided by the walls thereof into sharpening engagement with said sharpening element.

References Ctedrin the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,100,722 Fry June 23, 1914 2,077,195 Adams Apr. 13, 1937 2,545,399 Watkins Mar. 13, 1951 2,553,688 Thompson May 22, 1951 2,684,561 Lindgren July 27, 1954 2,716,846 Gerth Sept. 6, 1955 

